The Great Reno Balloon Race takes to Reno’s sky for the 35th year this Friday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 11 at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. In addition to the morning Glow Shows and Dawn Patrol, fans can expect to see a variety of special-shaped balloons, including Angry Birds; Jewel, a hummingbird; Pegleg Pete, a pirate parrot; Rio Grande Raider, a pirate ship; SnoBird, a camera carrying penguin; Piranha and more.
Credit: Ty O’Neil
Schedule of Events
Friday, September 9
3:30 a.m. Gates Open
5:15 a.m. Super Glow Show
6:45 a.m. Mass Ascension Launch
7 a.m. Biggest Little Pajama Party
9:30 a.m. E.L. Cord Foundation Tissue Paper Launch
Saturday, September 10
3:30 a.m. Gates Open
5 a.m. Glow Show
6:45 a.m. Mass Ascension Launch
7 a.m. Biggest Little Pajama Party & Bed Head Competition
Sunday, September 11
3:30 a.m. Gates Open
5 a.m. Glow Show
6 a.m. Girl Scouts Scavenger Hunt
6:45 a.m. City of Reno Proclamation for 35th anniversary
7 a.m. Mass Ascension Launch
Visit RenoBalloon.com for parking and transportation information, along with tips for enjoying the event.
Ty O’Neil is a lifelong student of anthropology with two degrees in the arts. He is far more at home in the tear gas filled streets of war torn countries than he is relaxing at home. He has found a place at This Is Reno as a photojournalist. He hopes to someday be a conflict photojournalist covering wars and natural disasters abroad.